Lacey Turner has described her experience on Strictly Come Dancing as “the hardest thing I’ve probably ever done,” before insisting the gruelling training is offset by constant laughter.
The 38-year-old EastEnders actress is one of 15 famous faces confirmed for the BBC dance competition’s new series, which launches on September 19.
Appearing on This Morning today alongside fellow contestant Jaime Winstone, Ms Turner revealed that people had urged her to savour every moment.
“Everyone has said to me, just enjoy it because it goes so fast. You can’t not enjoy it,” she said.
Lacey Turner and fellow Strictly contestant fellow contestant Jaime Winstone
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ITV
“Although it’s the hardest thing I’ve probably ever done, you laugh all day.”
Ms Turner is currently on a break from her long-running role as Stacey Slater in EastEnders.
The soap star confessed that for years she had been deterred from signing up after witnessing how physically drained her friends became during their own stints on the programme.
“It’s harder than I expected,” she said. “I’ve had a friend in it pretty much every year for so many years and I’ve watched them work and train and they were physically fit, exhausted. That put me off for a long time. Now I’m in the training room like, ‘wow.'”
Lacey Turner admitted BBC Strictly is ‘one of the hardest things’ she has done
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GETTY
Ms Winstone echoed those sentiments, acknowledging the punishing physical toll.
“It’s hard. I’m no stranger to a dancefloor but I’ve never learned a routine, I’ve never worked with a professional dancer. I can literally feel my leg muscles shaking right now,” she said.
The actress also shared a memorable encounter with Taylor Swift at Poppy Delevingne’s 40th birthday celebration.
“I was dancing, doing my thing and Taylor Swift came up to me, tapped me on the shoulder and said, ‘how do you dance so freely?’ And I was like, how do I? I guess we’ll find out.”
Lacey Turner has starred in EastEnders with brief hiatus’ since 2004
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BBC
Both Ms Turner and Ms Winstone also addressed the significant change behind the presenting desk this series, with Emma Willis, Josh Widdicombe and Johannes Rabe stepping in after Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman departed the show last year.
Ms Winstone suggested the transition felt natural given that everyone is finding their feet simultaneously.
“It feels nice because we’re new to it and they obviously are as well, so we’re all in it together. The nerves are real,” she said.
Lacey Turner also applauded the new BBC Strictly hosts
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ITV
Ms Turner praised the new trio’s chemistry while paying respect to their predecessors.
“You’re never going to fill their shoes but what they have done is create something new,” she said.
“The three of them bounce off each other. You’ve got the humour and Emma is a national treasure.”
Joining Ms Turner and Ms Winstone in this year’s lineup are former Love Island winner Dani Dyer-Bowen, actress Melanie Walters, ex-England footballer Shaun Wright-Phillips, Australian singer Delta Goodrem, celebrity hairstylist Chris Appleton, Love Island winner Cach Mercer, presenter Will Best, Paralympian Dame Sarah Storey, actress Bethany Antonia, dog trainer Graeme “The Dogfather” Hall, Emmerdale actor Lawrence Robb, Olympian Tabby Stoecker and sports content creator John Nellis.
Ms Turner, who is currently enjoying time away from Albert Square, has not ruled out reprising her role as Stacey Slater.
Speaking to Fabulous Magazine, she said: “I’m glad they didn’t kill Stacey off. I’d be heartbroken if they did. I love that job, I really do.”
“It’s such a massive part of my life. I don’t think I could ever let it go and say goodbye forever.”